“By acting ethically and responsibly and supporting the needs of our investors, governments, employees and others, we have been able to build lasting relationships with our stakeholders and make positive contributions to the communities in which we operate. "
- Peter Akerley, President and CEO
Erdene’s sustainable development program is based on company policies derived from the philosophy of providing resources that support capacity building in the communities in which the company works, particularly those in rural Mongolia. Priority funding categories in Erdene’s community development program include education, health and secure livelihoods with the goal of improving the quality of life for families in the regions in which we work.
Erdene employs a Community Development Officer (CDO) who coordinates the distribution of resources made available to communities located proximal to our exploration projects. The CDO meets with representatives from these communities to determine the areas where the company’s funding initiatives will be most beneficial. An evaluation of effective capacity building based on observation and interviews with those affected by the intervention is conducted annually.
Projects sponsored to date have included, in the area of education, increased capacity of school dormitories, computers and supplies, and teacher training. In the area of health, Erdene has provided medical equipment and computers, and made renovations to rural clinics. We also employ local residents whenever possible, have organize vocational training and provided grants of livestock to people in need.
Erdene is also a sponsor of the Lotus Children’s Centre in Ulaanbaatar which provides disadvantaged Mongolian children opportunities to change their lives for the better. To learn more visit www.lotuschild.org.
Erdene works with communities in our project areas through programs sponsored by our project partners including Xstrata Coal, KaMin and Ready Mix USA. Xstrata, for example, has established a strong working relationship with local stakeholders through a Community Liaison Committee (CLC). The CLC meets regularly and has proven to be a very effective forum for both the company and the community to share information and discuss concerns, The CLC also helps organize events such as the annual Schooner Pond Beach Sweep, part of the Great Canadian and International Shoreline Clean-up programs.
Erdene is also the Presenting Sponsor of Catapult, a non-profit camp in Nova Scotia that focuses on enhancing leadership skills in young people before they start high school. The program is geared toward teens who would otherwise never have the opportunity to take part in this type of learning. For more information visit www.catapultcamp.com.
